Pilosella officinarum - Mouse-Ear Hawkweed

Family:	Compositae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.2
Width:	0.2
Synonyms:	Pilosella officinarum.
Range:	Temperate and subarctic Europe, including Britain, to W. Asia.

Pilosella officinarum (Mouse-Ear Hawkweed) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.2m and a width of 0.2m . It has a hardness rating of 5and is vunerable to frost.
Mouse-Ear Hawkweed will flower in November to February. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees

Soil Information

Mouse-Ear Hawkweed will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Mouse-Ear Hawkweed prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Mouse-Ear Hawkweed should not be planted in shady areas.

Upland pastures, meadows, heaths, banks, on walls etc, usually on dry soil[7, 9, 13]. It is also found as a weed of lawns[1].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Planted in the lawn
• Suits a meadow
• In an East Wall

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in a sunny position in any well-drained soil[200]. Prefers a well-drained to dry poor soil in sun or partial shade[238]. A common lawn plant[1], it is also a good bee and butterfly plant[108, 200]. It grows well on the top of dry walls[200]. A strongly stoloniferous plant, it can be very invasive[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 3/5
Mouse-ear hawkweed relaxes the muscles of the bronchial tubes, stimulates the cough reflex and reduces the production of catarrh[254]. This combination of actions makes the herb effective against all manner of respiratory problems including asthma, wheeziness, whooping cough, bronchitis and other congested and chronic coughs[254]. The herb is mildly astringent, cholagogue, diaphoretic, strongly diuretic, expectorant and tonic[4, 7, 9, 21, 165]. The fresh plant is antibiotic[7]. The plant has been regarded as a specific for whooping cough[4] and is also used in treating other problems of the respiratory system such as asthma, bronchitis and influenza[238]. The herb is also taken in the treatment of enteritis, influenza, pyelitis and cystitis[9]. It is occasionally used externally in the treatment of small wounds and cuts[7].The plant is harvested in May and June whilst in flower and can be used fresh or dried[4, 238].

• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Cholagogue - Increases the flow of bile and its discharge from the body.
• Diaphoretic - Induces perspiration.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Expectorant - Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
• Tonic - Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed it can be sown outdoors in situ in the spring or autumn[238]. Division in spring or autumn[238]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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